Nako to Somang Trek Overview

Stories and legends float of hidden lands similar to Shangri-La, of immortal people living years beyond the normal lifespan. Most of these places are sacred to Buddhists and one such is the Somang Monastery which is said to be visited by fairies and other such divine forces.
Guru Padmasambhava, known as the second Buddha and the one regarded to have spread Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan, is said to have meditated in the caves around the Somang monastery before going to Tibet. It is here in the caves that people believe that if you are of a clean heart you would see footsteps of fairies.
The pilgrimage to Somang is also one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimages in Himachal Pradesh and this area of Himachal borders Tibet. Many ancient trading routes between India and Lhasa used the border from Spiti and Kinnaur to get into Tibet. The trek starts at over 3400m from Nako which is a UNESCO world heritage village. While on this route you’ll see the mountains of Tibet in front of you and it has been only a few years since this mystic pilgrimage has been opened to common people.

TRIP DETAILS

TRIP GRADE:Easy

DURATION:2 days

BEST TIME:April to mid October

HIGHEST POINT:3900m

HIGHEST CAMPING POINT:3600m

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Camping next to Nako lake

Visiting the mysterious Buddha statue at Tashi gang

Visiting cave where guru padmashambhava meditated and seeing his foot impression on a stone